Resistance-switch



C. B. JONES.

RESISTANCE SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 16, 1920.

1 ,395,579. Patented Nov. 1, 1921.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

, Application filed January 16, 1920. Serial No. 351,856.

in the county of Montgomery and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a certain new and useful Resistance-Switch, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to switch boxes and switches making a number of contacts corresponding to differing switch connections and disconnections.

The purpose of my invention is to provide forreducing the illumination from a light by including a resistance within the circuit by which the li ht is controlled, the resistance being placed within the switch element, usually a switch box.

A further purpose is to make a wall switch box which can be connected with a light, requiring no special outside Wiring or connections but providing for inserting resistance within the light circuit.

A further purpose is to seat resistance elements within the body of a switch block or casing flush or otherwise, and whether of plunger form or rotating.

Further purposes will appear in the specification and in the claims.

I have preferred to illustrate my invention by but one form, selecting a form which is practical, eflicient, reliable and inexpensive, and which at the same time well illustrates the principles of my invention.

Figure 1 is a central vertical section through a switch embodying the preferred form of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a section of Fig. 1 upon lines 2-2.

Fig. 3 is a section of Fig. 1 upon line 3-3.

Fig. 4 is a broken side elevation of a rotary switch contact member shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a sectional perspective showing the switch contact element seen in Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the fixed contact of the switch with diagrammatic connections.

Figs. 7-10 are diagrammatic views illustrating the invention.

In the specification similar numerals indicate like-parts.

Though devices for reducing the voltage which is effective upon lamps for the purpose of dimming them have been well known for years, these have required special lamp sockets or special outslde connections or other features individual to the lamp or circuit as distinguished from connections self contained by the switch itself. It is my purpose to make these functions available by 'swltch construction so that the outside connections, including the lamp sockets,

may be unchanged and yet all of the advan- Patented Nov. 1, 1921.

tages may beavailable that can be secured by the use of the special lamp sockets or special circuit connections indicated.

Though I recognize that my invention is applicable to any switch which is provided with more than two contact positions, whether adapted to be operated by a plunger or by a rotary button, I have preferred to apply my invention, by way of illustration merely, to a form of wall switch which has the advantage of both, in that it is a plunger operated and yet has a rotary contact member. The form of switchblock'and switch to which this is applied and shown in the illustration is generally old', but the contacts indicated and the inclusion of resistance within the switch block so as to be included in the circuit when certain contacts are made, are believed by me to be new.

Taking up the general form of switch shown, the block or body 11 is ordinarily of porcelain and is intended to lie within and be held by the wall and to be covered by a protective and decorative plate cover, not shown. It is recessed at 12 to provide a space for the switch contacts, both fixed and movable. Openings 13 permit insertion of the outside connections 14, 15.

16, 17, 18, 19 suitably provided with bind ing screws 20 or other fixed or temporary connecting devices. The fixed contacts are preferably in the form of spring blades to engage on opposite sides of movable knife blade contact members of which the highest is 21, the lowest 23 and three at the same intermediate height are shown at 22, 22', 22 These are all electrically connected and are carried by a plug 24 which is rotated by any suitable mechanism, whether of rotary button or plunger form. The end 25 of the plug is seated in and steadied by the walls of a recess 26 in the box.

In the illustration rotation is secured by a plunger 27 guided by a cross head 28 and depending rods 29. The pins are carried by a plate 30 held in osition by screws 31. The plunger is movable over a rotary drum 32 having spiral or cam path 33 in which a plunger pin (not show ides to turn the drum with downward I movement of the plunger. The lower end of the drum is connected through a' 'snap action, not new to me, with a ratchet wheel 34 engaged by the pawl 35, held to its duty by a spring 36, so that each movementof the plunger and corresponding partial turn ng of the drum in a clock-wise action (looking downwardly) will carrythe pawl with it and will, therefore turn sleeve (upon which the pawl is mounted) with it. Th1s turns plug 24 a quarter turn each time. This of the severa corresponds to the several contact positions for the switch illustrated.

The bindin screws and contact fingers fixed contacts are mounted upon suitable standards or supports which need no description and these are held in I it possible to insert two different resistances which can be applied in series to give a maximum dimming effect and of which one part only is used to secure partial dimming in another switch position, whereas the use 7 of three fixed contacts alone would normally provide but one-extent of dimming corresponding to one resistance inserted.

With the construction shown, forming one arrangement only among the many which may be used to secure the contacts desired, the fixed contact 18 is the highest, corresponding in height to that of movable contact 21; fixed contact 16 is next in height, corresponding in height to all three movable contacts 22, 22' and 22 and fixed contacts 17 and 19 are the lowest in position, and correspond in height to movable contact 23.

With the movable contact inserted within the fixed contacts in the angular position shown in Figs. 5 and 6, (shown diagrammatically in Fig. 7) movable contact 21 will lie above fixed contact 16 without engagement therewith, and the switch will be 1n open position since the connection is open at this, one of the terminal contacts. Though it is not therefore material, it might be noted that movable contacts 22 and 22 lie above the fixed contacts 17 and 19, and that movable contacts 22' and 23 both lie below the fixed contact 18; so that the switch is open at all of the contacts.

Turning the movable switch in a clockwise direction (looking downwardly) to the po-- sition shown diagrammatically in Fig. 8, it

will be seen that the highest movable contact 21 will now lie above and will not engage with the fixed contact 17, connection being open at this point. The movable contact 22 will lie under fixed contact 18 without engagement with it, the connections being therefore open also at this point. However, movable contact 23 will engage with fixed contact 19 and movable contact 22 will engage with fixed contact 16 forming a direct connection across the movable element between the two terminal contacts 16 and 19 and rendering the full voltage available upon the outside circuit. This does not include artificial resistance.

Turning the movable contact member another quarter turn in a clockwise direction (looking downwardly), the movable contact 21 will now engage with the fixed contact 18. The movable contact 22 will lie above terminal contact 19 Without making connection with it. The movable contact 22 will engage with the terminal contact 16 and the movable contact 22 will lie above and will not engage with the fixed contact 17. Though the terminal 19 is not engaged, a circuit will be made through the terminal 16 across the movable contact member to contact 18, through resistance 39 to the fixed contact terminal and out to the line, connecting the circuit with part of the resistance 39 in circuit.

Turning the movable contact element another quarter turn in the same counter clockwise direction. (looking downwardly) the movable contact 21 will lie above and will not engage with the fixed contact 19, the circuit being open at this point. The movable contact 22 will engage with fixed contact 16 closing this (one) terminal. The movable contact 23 will engage with the fixed contact 17 closing the circuit at this point, and the movable contact 22 will lie under and therefore will not be engaged with the fixed contact 18. Though connection will not be made at fixed contact 19,.the circuit will be closed through the terminal contact 16, the movable contact element, fixed contact 17 and the two resistances 38 and 39 to the fixed contact terminal at 19, introducing a maximum of resistance in the circuit.

The two different switch resistance points have been selected by way of illustration, and it will be evident that a simplified form with but a single resistance included would mean merely dropping of the contacts 21 and 18, if an intermediate (open) position be desired, without altering the position of the other contacts; and dropping these two contacts and spacing the others by 120 if but one open position of a switch be desired.

It will be evident that the same principles are applicable to any other form of switch having more than two positions whereby discriminating contacts can be made and in which resistance can be carried to render the different contacts effective for the purpose intended. Though these may differ in form and appearance and attain but a part of the benefit of my invention, 1 purpose covering all such herein as come within the spirit and scope of my invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A switch comprising a plurality of fixed contacts, two of them having their contact surfaces at the same height and spaced by two having their contact surfaces at heights different from these two and from each other, a resistance within the switch connected with the two contacts of equal height, one of them being a terminal and at an intermediate point with one of the contacts of different height, which is not a terminal, in combination with a plurality o'f interconnected movable contacts, three at a height corresponding to one of the fixed contacts of unequal height and two corresponding to the contacts of equal height and the other fixed contact respectively, whereby the terminal fixed contacts may be connected without any of the resistance, with part of the resistance only or with all of the resistance in the circuit as desired.

2. A switch comprising fixed contact members in quadrant position of which two adjoining members are terminals, a resistance connected from one of the terminals to the contact directly across therefrom and at an intermediate position connecting with an in termediate contact which is not a terminal, in combination with a movable contact member having interconnected contacts adapted to open the switch or to engage with the terminal free from resistance connection and any of the other three terminals in turn to open the switch or to include none of the resistance or difi'erin resistance at will.

3. A switch comprising a plurality of fixed contacts, quadrant spaced having two opposite contacts, one a terminal, at the same height and the intermediate two contacts, including the second terminal, at heights different from the first two and from each other and resistance connection between the first terminal and. the contact of equal height opposite it and connected at an intermediate point to the intermediate non-terminal contact in combination with a rotary contact member having interconnected fingers in quadrant position, three adapted to engage the second terminal, one at the fourth quadrant position adapted to engage the fixed contact connected with the intermediate resistance osition and a fifth contact across the axis from said fourth contact and adapted to engage with the two contacts of equal height.

4. In a device of the character stated, a switch-body having a recess, fixed switch contacts located within the recess, two of them being terminals, a resistance within the switch body connected to two of the fixed contacts, one of the contacts being a switch terminal, and at an intermediate point to a third switch contact and a movable contact member adapted to engage any of the 3 switch contacts in turn and connect it with a fourth switch. contact comprising the other terminal of the switch.

5. In a device of the character stated, a switch body having a recess, fixed switch contacts located within the recess, two of them being terminals, a plunger switch operating member, and a rotary switch con-' tact member and connections operated by the plunger to rotate the same to connect one of the switch contacts with any of the other switch contacts in turn and to open the switch, in combination with a resistance within the switch body connected between a terminal fixed switch contact and one of the other fixed contacts.

6. In a device ofthe character stated, a switch body having a recess, fixed switch contacts located within the recess, two of them being terminals, a plungenswitch operating member, and a. rotary switch-closing contact member and connections operated by the plunger to rotate the same to connect one of the switch contacts with any of the other switch contacts in turn and to open the switch, in combination with a resistance 1n the switch body, connected between two of the contacts and a connect-ion from'an intermediate point in said resistance to a third contact.

CHARLES BROOKE JONES. 

